Edward Snowden: Former intelligence contractor interviewed in Brazil

WHISTLEBLOWING - SURVEILLANCE, 16 Jun 2014

ABC News Australia – TRANSCEND Media Service

Edward Snowden (GloboTV)

Editor’s note (6 June 2014): An earlier version of this story reported that Edward Snowden had told Globo TV he was in possession of more sensitive documents. In fact, he told Globo he has no more documents to offer. Instead, journalist Glenn Greenwald, who was part of the interview, told Globo there are more revelations about the activities of intelligence agencies to come.

Former intelligence contractor Edward Snowden, wanted by US authorities and currently living in Russia, has told Brazil’s Globo TV network he would “love to live in Brazil”.

Snowden’s temporary asylum in Russia will expire in August and he cannot return to the US because his US passport has been revoked.

He told Globo he is happy living in Russia and says he has no plans for the future. “I live a surprisingly open life,” he said.

“If Brazil were to offer me asylum, I would be more than happy to accept,” he said.

“I already sent a petition to the Brazilian government requesting asylum,” Snowden said.

When the interviewer told Snowden the Brazilian authorities say they have not received a request, Snowden replied: “That’s news to me … maybe there’s some procedure they say wasn’t followed.”

Snowden explicitly rejected the notion he would trade documents for asylum, saying he has no documents to trade in any case.

“Asylum has to be granted on humanitarian grounds. It has to be granted to protect political rights or the right to safety. This whole topic about negotiating for asylum, I think, is improper,” he said.

But Snowden said if he could live anywhere it would be the United States. “There’s no question that if I could choose anywhere in the world to be, I’d be at home in the United States with my family.”

Snowden was interviewed with reporter Glenn Greenwald by his side.

Mr Greenwald is an American who writes for The Guardian and has published much of the information Snowden has leaked. He told Globo there are more revelations yet to be reported.

The full interview, conducted in English, is available on the Globo TV website.

ABC/AFP

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